CCTV cameras were installed around the doctors' protest site in Salt Lake after TMC leader Kunal Ghosh posted an audio clip that revealed a threat to the lives of the protestors. Kunal Ghosh at a press meet alleged that "Leftist" elements were planning to bring in "outsiders" to assassinate the junior doctors by attacking the protest site.
Kunal Ghosh said: "There's a conspiracy to overthrow the Mamata Banerjee government. The plot was to be executed after the meeting on Thursday. However, it could not be executed since the meeting did not take place." He said such an attack right after the meeting with Mamata Banerjee would have put the entire blame on the state government. "A leftist students' organisation and an extremist Left outfit are involved in this terrifying plot," Ghosh said.
He further said: "BJP youth leaders are also frequenting the site [of the protest]." Ghosh also released the recording of a phone conversation that revealed the "conspiracy".
In the audio clip, which could not be verified by ABP, two persons can be heard discussing as follows (excerpt):
Caller 1: Are you free or busy.
Caller 2: Free.
Caller 1: Saheb [Sir] has passed the order asked to blow them up in Salt Lake.
Caller 2: If he has ordered, blow them up.
C1: But our guys are questioning the order. Would it be right?
C2: If Saheb has ordered, he must have thought of something.
C1: I have been doing this for so long... But I am feeling guilty for the first time. Would this be right? They save people.
C2: You haven't been asked to fight to [the] finish.
C1: But our guys usually go to such places drunk. What if something happens?
C2: Then tell him [Saheb] about your apprehensions.
C1: I asked Bappada. We haven't turned into animals yet.
...
C1: Dadu said the meeting did not take place at 'Nabanna'. They will return to Salt Lake. People will think the ruling party has attacked them.
C2: Hmm...
C1: They can be blamed and there would be more chaos. But no one from Kolkata. Outsiders.
C2: Yes.
...
The full clip shared by Kunal Ghosh is given below:
After this allegation, the Kolkata Police quickly covered the entire stretch where the protesters are present with CCTV cameras. As many as 14 CCTV cameras were installed from Electronics Complex Police Station in Salt Lake to Benfish More.
The meeting between protesters and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee could not take place after the government refused to livestream the discussions, citing that the case is sub-judice. The government, however, offered to record the entire conversation and give it to the junior doctors after a court order.
Left Wing Stages Protest In Kolkata
Following the allegations, CPI-M staged a protest on BB Ganguly Street in Kolkata demanding justice for the RG Kar rape and murder victim. The Left also demanded the resignation of the Police Commissioner of Kolkata and CM Mamata Banerjee.
Meanwhile, junior doctors continued their protest outside the Swasthya Bhawan in Kolkata. On August 9, a junior doctor was raped and murdered on the premises of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Since then protests have broken out in different parts of Bengal, alleging a larger conspiracy by the administration and seeking 'justice' for the victim. So far, one accused, Sanjay Roy, has been arrested for the crime.
(With inputs from ABP Ananda.)